Hi September 18ers! I just wanted to pass along a really delicious recipe that Shawn and I tried last night: https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/twice-baked-potatoes-paleo-whole30-vegan/. It was amazing! Even Shawn loved it, which is surprising given that he doesn't much like potatoes unless they're piled high with sour cream and cheese!
We also tried a few recipes from Mel Joulwan's Well Fed and they were also delicious! If you like real depth of flavor, this might be the book for you! For us, some of the Whole30 Cookbook recipes are pretty bland. Not with the ones we tried from Well Fed!
Please continue to share any resources you love!

Indeed I am. I'm also noticing what foods make my stomach upset. I went through a period of a couple years where every time I ate, I'd get nauseous about 15 min. after eating and it would last for about 5-10 min. then go away. That sucked. So, I can narrow things down a bit more. I'll tell you one thing....carb overload gives me serious hot flashes where my head feels like a zit that might pop and then my face and ears get super red and hot. Not pleasant. Having a little carbs, here and there is ok, but like eating a bunch of popcorn is not pleasant. That stinks because I'm a popcorn addict! Moderation I guess. Learning....

Guess I'm gonna have to get that book! Right now I'm reading the Keto Reset. Still a long ways off from putting it in to effect and truthfully not gonna try with the holidays, but will rock it at the first of the year. I'm sticking with "sensible eating" right now and trying to steer clear of the stuff I know makes my stomach hurt and gives me the bloated feeling. Still not having sugar in my coffee, which is huge!

Food Freedom Forever is an outstanding book. The simplicity of what Melissa is saying is incredible, but right on. I'm about 60% done with it, and wish I had finished it sooner. You can skip over the part where she explains what is "reset" is and how Whole 30 and others work, you've already done that! If you have this book, read it, you'll be very glad you did. Awesome job on those SRV's by the way! You really rocked this program!

@kirbz This is so amazing and inspirational!!! Absolutely incredible I will definitely check in with my NSVs and SVs next week, but I'm also thinking of continuing the program. The stories of reintroduction from @dmrob2009, @Svmomma, @Mike5858 and @Tj V are incredibly enlightening. Also, it just shows how much this program has been a lifestyle change rather than just a detox or reset.
Before this program, I rarely ate gluten or dairy, beans and legumes if they happened to come with a dish and I would socially drink alcohol. Sugar was the main thing for me, and also my main trigger. As I read into reintro more, they suggest keeping away from sugar (for all the reasons we know of and all of the research support in the book) so I'm wondering if I could just find a happy medium with keeping the main tenets of the program going. I will spend time over the weekend reading up about it some more, but I think this might work for me.
And like @dmrob2009and @Tj V, maybe develop some kind of mix between Paleo, Keto and Bright Living so that I feel I can still have dessert if I wanted, or morning pancakes etc. I know this won't technically be W30 and so I'm sorry if this breaks the rules of the forum, but based on the teachings of Food Freedom Forever, I'm trying to figure out what will work for me. Also @kirbz I'm only a few chapters into the FFF book and it's great!
Thanks so much for all of your support guys.. I took some time to go for a walk yesterday after reading all your comments and I'm recommitted to working on creating and maintaining a healthy approach to food and life You guys rock!

@SineadMon Oh goodness, I can completely relate to how you're feeling. Except mine came on Day 31. I had planned for quite some time to continue on another week so I was not planning on anything special for Day 31. But I was on a simple trip to the grocery store and my mind went out of control! I wanted the cake, and the donuts, and the candy bars, and the ice cream, and the pizza. I deserved those things because I worked so hard and I was so good for 30 whole days! I should reward myself! Why on earth was I working so hard if I didn't get to occasionally enjoy something nice for myself!?
It was a minefield and a total mental screwup. I made it through but it's definitely a lot harder now that I've officially finished the program. But, honestly, that mental battle made me realize that I don't think I'm quite ready for reintroductions yet. I still need to develop a little more control... Or maybe I'm just scared to live in the real world of eating again!
I have the Food Freedom Forever book but haven't read it yet. Is it worth the read? Would it help me with my challenges?

Okay so, here are my official results after 34 days of Whole30:
Body Results
lost 15.5 pounds
lost 3.5" in my bust
lost 3.5" in my hips
lost 2.75" in my waist
lost 2" in my thighs
Heart Health Results
resting heart rate went down from 71 to 55
V02 max went from 30 to 35
NSVs
fewer blemishes
flatter stomach
leaner appearance
clothes fitting better
wedding ring fitting better
feeling more confident in my appearance
less painful joints
less heartburn
less knee pain
fewer carb cravings
improved body image
feeling in control of my food
eats to satiety
listens to my body
no longer use food for comfort
no longer use food as reward
more nutrition in my diet
food no longer has unwanted side effects
Results Not Achieved (and the reason I'm sticking with this for a while longer)
fewer sugar cravings
think more clearly
feel more productive
sleep more soundly
energy levels are higher
energy levels are more even
more energy in the morning
can exercise longer, harder, or faster

I'll keep an eye on this thread because I like you guys. :-) But my current plan is to eat Whole30 through at least Sunday and then maybe even through the end of the month. At the latest, I'll start reintroduction on November 1 so I have it all out of the way before the Thanksgiving holiday.
I look forward to hearing about your Food Freedom Adventures! Stay safe out there! LOL.

Thanks! I'm ok today. It was a rough night though. I hope you feel better soon. I don't know if it was soda or the grease! But...ugh! Hey...btw...can you give me the link to the reintro group again? I lost it. Thanks!

In all honesty...I ate at a fast food joint...because I worked my butt off in the yard and grooming 3 dogs and my back hurt and...well, I wanted it. It was easy. It DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD or satisfied. In fact, I felt crappy and bloated and sort of sick to my stomach! The grass is not always greener where we were before and if it was...we wouldn't be here in the first place! So, hang in there, @SineadMon! I hope my experience helps to curb your cravings.

Thanks so much @dmrob2009. The main reason I wanted to voice these feelings here, and now, was to help prepare myself for next week. I know food freedom is a long journey with many twists and turns, and i'm so proud that all of us were able to take this on and learn so much from it. This will be the first time I've fully completed a W30 and so I suppose I had this idea that it was going to completely remove any type of cravings or bingeing forever!!!! Today I need to make peace with the fact that I've learned so so much and that I can use that information going forward. I do agree the reintro period is going to be so important and I've been following you and @Mike5858's experience this morning. So enlightening! I suppose it doesn't matter whether this is your first or 10th W30, always so much to learn and our bodies are always changing and responding. Thanks so much for the support!!

Hi all.. Day25 for me! I had such a long day at work yesterday that I'm truly exhausted.. but I wanted to come on here and seek your advice/support/thoughts about the next few days/weeks. Probably due to the stress and tiredness over the last few days, I've found myself getting really excited about finishing the program - but really so that I can eat ALL OF THE THINGS! I completely understand the logic of the reintro and the program and I do believe I can change this mindset over the next few days (before Day30!) but I would like your help.
Did any of you feel this near the end? Like I have had some many NSVs and am feeling good and able to finish the next few days. But I'm also worried about being 'off the program' or "falling off the wagon" a bit. Also, there's a bit of me that is just thinking - girl, you've got this far, now hit that candy aisle and enjoy all the things you couldn't have (REALLY BAD MINDSET, I know!). One of my issues before this program (and one of my main WHY's coming in!) was because I tended to comfort eat on candy and food a lot, and some times I really enjoyed to sit in front of the TV in the evening with some cookies and candy and just unwind. And I'm just getting worried now that when the program ends, I won't have the same focus - I think it's also driven by the fact that I seem to be counting down the hours until Day30, even though I feel great (albeit tired and cranky this morning, sorry!)
Anyone else struggle with this?
I know you're all on your reintro and sorry to be asking all this, but if you do have any insights it would be great!!

Day 32... We finished strong and have kind of kept going, minus two glasses of wine last night!

I'm down 5.3 lbs and my sugar cravings are gone. So are the (formerly) compulsive afternoon and evening snacks that just kept going and going.
We're not sure what the future looks like, but we've formed some good new habits these last 4 weeks and are continuing those for now!

Thanks @Tj V - I think I took too much over the last few days so I haven't taken any today. But I agree that you need to play with the dosage. I feel ok knowing that is the cause of it, otherwise I think i would feel much more disappointed. It's funny @Svmomma, I really thought this week would be Tiger Blood season, but not extra that for me right now. Hopefully tomorrow!
Thanks @dmrob2009 and everyone

Yes @dmrob2009.. I'm still here and determined to see Day30! Having some digestive discomfort today which I really didn't expect at this stage of the program. But I do think it's from a magnesium supplement I've started to take (the Natural Calm powder) rather than food. Either way, my whole system feels a bit off and so I've a feeling it'll be a long day. But I'll get there!
Good luck today with your reintroductions everyone... Really hope I'm the only one with discomfort today!!!